Match #6 Elijah Madison (Missouri) over Atticus Disney (Kansas) Dec 4-0,1-1,2-2

Disney is a Greco All-American and will wrestle for 7th Place!

... I've gathered my thoughts from the match between Disney and Madison, I'll try to share them.

Period one ... scoreless first minute ... Disney wins the flip. Atticus cannot turn Elijah and rotates to bottom. Madison gets a big lift with exposure and wins the period, 0-4.

Period two ... scoreless first minute ... Disney wins the flip. Again Atticus cannot turn the big man and takes his turn on bottom. This time, Disney has shored up his defense and wins the period, 1-1.

Period three ... scoreless after the first minute elapses. Madison wins the flip. Atticus is called to attention for and improper start. Then Elijah is called for the same. They try to get in the position again but the referee call Elijah again ... this time it is a caution and 1-point for Atticus.

Of course there was a lot of debate that followed. Atticus is ahead, 1-0 and Elijah lost the benefit of his position. After 30 seconds, Atticus is awarded another point because Elijah has failed to score.

The match tries to restart with Atticus in the dominant position. Again we have trouble with the position. Both wrestlers pickup separate attentions. The ref tries to get a clean restart but calls Atticus for a caution and one. Atticus is ahead in the score, 2-1 but has lost position. If Atticus doesn't score he will lose the bout. Disney tries valiantly but Elijah allows nothing. Disney loses the period, 2-2.

I don't know if I have the words to explain the tension and the confusion. I will remind you, the matches are being competed this week with one man mechanics which puts the mat official in total control.

Regardless ... Disney is shown as being defeated. But he will place as an All-American.

Man. You would think that Atticus could have made sure to get a clean restart with basically no chance of picking Elijah up. That should never have happened.

Dannette O'Hara takes a loss.

Beth Johnson looked very dominant!!!

Regina Ward wins by pin!

These are the results of the women of Team Kansas! They are copied from trackwrestling.com.

Women`s Junior Freestyle Nationals Results for Kansas
Women-109 - Keyona Burden-Sackett's place is unknown.
Match #1 Melissa Richey (Indiana) over Keyona Burden-Sackett (Kansas) Dec 5-2,3-2
Match #2 Helen Maroulis (Maryland) over Keyona Burden-Sackett (Kansas) Fall 0:34

Women-109 - Taylor Young's place is unknown.
Match #1 Samantha Lopez (California) over Taylor Young (Kansas) TF 6-0,8-2
Match #2 Taylor Young (Kansas) over Olivia Hogan (Wisconsin) Fall 0:22
Match #3 Carla Watase (Hawaii) over Taylor Young (Kansas) Fall 8-0,1:17

Women-109 - Maria Ponce's place is unknown.
Match #1 Maria Ponce (Kansas) over Kira Hagi (Hawaii) Dec 2-5,2-0,4-1
Match #2 C.c. Weber (Michigan) over Maria Ponce (Kansas) TF 6-0,6-0
Match #3 Emily Martin (Texas) over Maria Ponce (Kansas) Fall 0:54

Women-116 - Regina Ward's place is unknown.
Match #1 Jazzy Green (California) over Regina Ward (Kansas) Fall 4-0,1:26
Match #2 Regina Ward (Kansas) over Alyssa Garcia (Colorado) Dec 2-1,3-2
Match #3 Regina Ward (Kansas) over Elizabeth Richard (Florida) Dec 2-0,1-0

Women-116 - Dannette O`Hara's place is unknown.
Match #1 Micheala Hutchison (Alaska) over Dannette O`Hara (Kansas) Fall 0:36
Match #2 Dannette O`Hara (Kansas) over Briana Watt (Idaho) Dec 1-0,1-0
Match #3 Dannette O`Hara (Kansas) over Mia Mickelson (Texas) Fall 2-1,0-5,1:11
Match #4 Tina Linhsamout (California) over Dannette O`Hara (Kansas) Fall 6-0,1:21

Women-124 - Jessica Bowman's place is unknown.
Match #1 Jessica Bowman (Kansas) over Justine Neves (California) Fall 0-1,1:38
Match #2 Randi Beltz (Missouri) over Jessica Bowman (Kansas) Fall 7-0,0:58
Match #3 Danielle Mayberry (Nevada) over Jessica Bowman (Kansas) Dec 1-0,3-1

Women-124 - Beth Johnson's place is unknown.
Match #1 Beth Johnson (Kansas) over Irena Pearse-drance (New Jersey) TF 8-1,7-0
Match #2 Beth Johnson (Kansas) over Tani Ader (Hawaii) TF 8-1,6-0
Match #3 Beth Johnson (Kansas) over Katy Yoder (Ohio) TF 6-0,7-1
Match #4 Beth Johnson (Kansas) over Sarah Haas (Indiana) Fall 7-0,0:15

Women-124 - Samantha Lynch's place is unknown.
Match #1 Samantha Lynch (Kansas) received a bye.
Match #2 Samantha Lynch (Kansas) over Danielle Robinson (California) Dec 8-0,4-4
Match #3 Samantha Lynch (Kansas) over Becky Cissell (Indiana) Fall 3-6,1:13

Women-132 - Chandra Engel's place is unknown.
Match #1 Chandra Engel (Kansas) over Ariel Harris (California) Dec 4-0,3-2
Match #2 Amber Miracle (Wisconsin) over Chandra Engel (Kansas) Fall 6-0,0:59
Match #3 Chandra Engel (Kansas) over Anna Campos (Texas) Fall 1:12

WOW! If this were the Olympics I would support your criticism however these are high school athletes.

I am quite proud of Atticus accomplishment(s).

Beth Johnson was just pinned by Randi Beltz of Missouri.

I think that's the difference between wrestling to win and wrestling not to lose.

There is not a wrestling fan in Kansas that is not proud to have Atticus in our state. For you to imply otherwise is intentionally personal, again earning your reputation. To be clear on your statement, unless you are wrestling in the Olympics, winning should not be your goal?

Okay, here we go! I've discussed the match with the coaches and athletes. I will share some overall thoughts. Now this is my opinion, one that I have shared with Richard before, it is up to you to take or leave it.

The way the match went down, it was in the advantage of Atticus. If he would have got a clean lock, he would have increased his likelihood of victory. Was it guaranteed? Absolutely not but favorable.

In my mind, it is about expectations! Expectations from the athletes mind, the coaches mind, the fans mind. If you were to ask the athletes if they were satisfied with their performance, I think (I didn't ask them all) that 95% would say no.

I agree that this is not the Olympics! But I suggest, for these athletes, it may be as close as they will get. This is the National Championships. In my book, that is a pretty big deal.

I too, am quite proud of the accomplishments of Atticus, et al. But if I may, my expectations for all of our wrestlers, including Mr. Disney, were a bit higher.

But they have many more opportunities!! And I will always support them!

Beth Johnson was just recognized as being a themat.com/Asics High School All-American!

Regina Ward from Lakin is your sixth-place finisher and an All-American!!

Beth Johnson from Garden City wins the Bronze! She is an All-American!! Following her match she shook hands with everyone in sight! As for me, I insisted on a hug!

Beth is a great wrestler that represents the State of Kansas and does so, very well. Even in defeat, while she is clearly disappointed, she is always respectful to her opponent and officials.

I visited briefly with Mike Furches after Beth had wrestled. He says that Beth may be the classiest wrestler in the State!! I might have to agree.

Junior Greco Nationals
Team Standings Prior to Finals Matches
Place - Team Name - Wrestler Count - Points
1 - Minnesota - 44   - 49
2 - New York - 41   - 48
3 - California - 42   - 43
4 - Illinois - 45   - 43
5 - Oregon - 40   - 43
6 - Iowa - 42   - 37
7 - Washington - 37   - 25
8 - Missouri - 33   - 23
9 - Ohio - 52   - 18
10 - Florida - 33   - 17
11 - Colorado - 13   - 16
12 - Pennsylvania - 29   - 16
13 - North Dakota - 18   - 13
14 - Arizona - 21   - 10
15 - Michigan - 21   - 10
16 - Wisconsin - 19   - 10
17 - Nebraska - 6   - 8
18 - New Jersey - 16   - 8
19 - Montana - 10   - 7
20 - Utah - 13   - 7
21 - Georgia - 13   - 5
22 - Kansas - 27   - 5
23 - Oklahoma - 30   - 5
24 - Texas - 28   - 5
25 - Alaska - 14   - 3
26 - Nevada - 11   - 2
27 - Hawaii - 15   - 1
28 - Maryland - 13   - 1
29 - North Carolina - 18   - 1
30 - Wyoming - 10   - 1
31 - Alabama - 1   - 0
32 - Arkansas - 0   - 0
33 - Armed Forces - 6   - 0
34 - Connecticut - 2   - 0
35 - Delaware - 8   - 0
36 - Idaho - 22   - 0
37 - Indiana - 26   - 0
38 - Kentucky - 3   - 0
39 - Louisiana - 18   - 0
40 - Maine - 0   - 0
41 - Massachusetts - 0   - 0
42 - Mississippi - 0   - 0
43 - New Hampshire - 2   - 0
44 - New Mexico - 1   - 0
45 - Puerto Rico - 0   - 0
46 - Rhode Island - 0   - 0
47 - South Carolina - 1   - 0
48 - South Dakota - 20   - 0
49 - Team Okinawa - 0   - 0
50 - Tennessee - 2   - 0
51 - Vermont - 0   - 0
52 - Virginia - 22   - 0
53 - West Virginia - 7   - 0

I'm back at the dorms working on team stuff, while Randy hides out in the air-conditioned Fargodome. However, despite calling him out for being a wimp in the face of a little bit of heat, I would have to agree with his observations regarding Beth. Also, I would mention that her 3rd place match wasn't even close, with Beth dominating in every category. Congratulations to Beth and Regina on their All-American honors, as well as to the entire team for their hard work in getting here.

I have posted some photos that I took of the girls into the Photo Gallery, as well as a few more of the Juniors.

Kansas Team Member Points Scored
Name - Weight Class - Points
Furches, Nathan - 105 - 3
Caldwell, Tyler - 135 - 1
Disney, Atticus - 285 - 1

The medal matches are set for the Greco-Roman division of the 2007 Junior Nationals!

Going for 5th will be Nathan Furches facing Taylor Golba of New York.

Wrestling for 7th will be Tyler Caldwell as he is matched against Lance Gallegos from Colorado.

Also going for 7th we have Atticus Disney pitted against Bubba (Jarret) Owens.

... by the way ... what some people call wimpy, others call intelligent!

The finals of Junior Greco are about to begin!